As we delve into the world of the 1900s, let’s take a look at the fashion of the 40s and 50s. The mid-1990s were a wild ride, with more subtle trends in the 40s just after the war, and more personality and luxury seen in the 50s with the effects of war slowly disappearing.
During the 40s, fashion trends were heavily defined by World War II. The early 1940s saw very restricted fashion, as fashion became more practical with limited access to fabrics and method manufacturers, as resources were focused on the war. For women, popular outfits included square-shouldered jackets, with more simple blouses and a matching skirt. Due to the limited access to resources, women did not have easy access to nylon or silk, and so would either go without stockings or create the illusion of them using stockings. As the mid-40s approached, women’s style took a turn as more women were involved in the workforce. It was very common to sport pants, denim, overalls and boots for comfort and practicality. During this time, military wear was the most common attire for men, and that style often blended into their off-duty style, with bomber jackets, trench coats, chinos, and aviator glasses.
As the war ended, the fashion industry saw a major shift in the late 40s. Women’s fashion moved away from workwear towards more traditionally feminine attire. Pants were still common among women, but dresses became the regular everyday outfit again. With almost no resource restrictions, the late 40s saw a comeback of lace, silk tassels, fringe and beading details within their outfits. The effects of the war on fashion had slowly reduced, seeing an increase in more bold, fun everyday attire.
As the 1950s approached, many countries were still in the process of rebuilding after the war. However, goods were more accessible and new synthetic fabrics offered more possibilities for mass-produced clothing. Women in the 1950s were often found sporting dresses with more cinched-in waistlines, rounded shoulders, full skirts, and exaggerated hips. As for casual wear, women’s trousers were more of a common occurrence, allowing for a more comfortable work attire option. Furthermore, female fashion designers in the US were focusing more on the practicality of clothing, especially for women, creating playsuits, pants, and designer sportswear.
In the 1950s, men’s fashion took a casual turn. The decade began with baggier suits with narrow ties, which were often conservatively coloured. As the decade progressed, men’s fashion allowed for more personality with textures, colours, and patterns. A summer staple was a Hawaiian-style shirt with knee-length shorts, still a current holiday outfit. Teenagers in the 1950s found their voice within ‘rebellion’. Young men looked up to the likes of James Dean and Marlon Brando with the classic leather jacket, white tank and blue jeans look. Teenage girls often opted for modified versions of their mother’s outfits with a fitted blouse, a wide belt, and a round circle skirt or a pencil skirt.
The fashion trends of the 40s and 50s served some iconic looks of the 1900s. While many of the trends are not as prevalent in today’s fashion, it is easy to see why they dominated the industry at the time.
Sources:
Dubitsky, Meghan. “The Keys to 1940s Fashion.” Central Casting, 27 Jan. 2020, www.centralcasting.com/keys-to-1940s-fashion/#:~:text=Popular%201940s%20outfits%20for%20women,or%20light%20collars%20and%20cuffs.
Morton, Sunny Jane. “1950s Fashions: Mid-Century Clothing Styles • • Familysearch Blog.” • FamilySearch Blog, 23 July 2020, www.familysearch.org/en/blog/1950s-fashions#:~:text=Straight%20stovepipe%20trousers%2C%20velvet%2Dcollar,%2C%20and%20greased%2Dback%20hair.
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